Kentucky Derby Roundup: Chip Honcho, Express Kid emerge

The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 130 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Chip Honcho wins close battle in Gun Runner Stakes

Chip Honcho made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut a winning one in Saturday’s Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds, a 1 1/16-mile qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

Coming off a maiden win at Churchill Downs, Chip Honcho had to work hard to secure first prize in the Gun Runner. He pressed hot fractions of :23.62, :46.66, and 1:10.98 in second place before dropping back a bit in the homestretch. Chip Honcho looked beaten, but re-rallied just before the wire to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:44.76.

Liberty National, running back only three weeks after breaking his maiden at Churchill, rallied up the rail to snag second place by a head over pacesetter Crown the Buckeye. Quality Mischief finished another head back in fourth place, while Very Connected and Mister Punch trailed the field.

Chip Honcho debuts in 12th place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard. Liberty National ranks 22nd, narrowly outside the Top 20 cutoff.

Express Kid springs major upset in Remington Springboard Mile

Express Kid started as a 34-1 longshot in Saturday’s Remington Springboard Mile, a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier at Remington Park worth 10-5-3-2-1 points. But he ran like a heavy favorite.

Breaking from the far outside post in an 11-horse field, Express Kid came out running and secured a clear lead through fractions of :23.54, :47.58, and 1:12.83. Despite gradually decelerating as the race went on, Express Kid had plenty of run left for the homestretch, opening up to win by 6 1/4 lengths while completing one mile in 1:38.99.

Odds-on favorite Arctic Beast closed for second place, while Royalamerican, Western Man, and Way Beyond rounded out the top five. Spice Runner, winner of the Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, ran below expectations while finishing last.

Express Kid joins the Kentucky Derby leaderboard in ninth place, while Arctic Beast narrowly made the Top 20 cutoff in 19th place.

Pyromancer hangs on in Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Pyromancer remained unbeaten and vaulted to the top of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard when he won Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse.

The Godolphin color-bearer spent much of the 1,600-mile (about one-mile) journey racing in second place. He gradually took command in the homestretch before holding off a late charge from the filly Tamamo Freesia to win by a neck in 1:44.2. Best Green, Ayasan Jotaro, and Cosmo Gigantea rounded out the top five.

The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun awarded 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers. Pyromancer, who is now 3-for-3, sits atop the latest leaderboard by a clear margin over Tamamo Freesia in second place.

Godolphin has announced the March 28 UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai is the next major goal for Pyromancer, though it’s possible he could run once more before then.

Golden Tempo finishes fast in Fair Grounds debut

Golden Tempo looked like a Road to the Kentucky Derby contender in the making when he stormed home from last place to win a six-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Making his debut, the stoutly bred son of Curlin trailed by seven lengths with a quarter-mile remaining, but dashed homestretch run in a blazing :23.67 to sweep past the field and triumph by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:10.66.

Read more about Golden Tempo and other eye-catching maiden winners in this week’s edition of Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch.

Kentucky Derby Power Rankings

The weekend victories posted by Chip Honcho, Express Kid, and Golden Tempo earned them spots in the latest Kentucky Derby Power Rankings on KentuckyDerby.com.

Express Kid climbed the highest among the newcomers, debuting at 16th place. Golden Tempo slots into the 19th spot, while Chip Honcho rounds out the Top 20.

Mr. A. P. off the Kentucky Derby trail

Mr. A. P., runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), is expected to miss the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

Brad Free of the Daily Racing Form reports the promising colt had a training setback that will sideline him for a few months.

As of Monday, Mr. A. P. remains listed on the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard. The 15 points he earned in the Breeders’ Cup rank him in third place, though he’ll likely be removed in the future.

Latest Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are some of the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Balboa: Sped four furlongs in a bullet :48.60 on Thursday at Laurel Park.

Blacksmith: In his first work since finishing second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Blacksmith went three furlongs in :36.60 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Cherokee Nation: Traversed three furlongs in :36.60 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Desert Gate: Worked half a mile in :48.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Incredibolt: Breezed three furlongs in a slow :39.15 on Wednesday at Palm Meadows, his first workout since winning the Street Sense (G3).

Intrepido: Clocked five furlongs in 1:02.80 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Maximus Prime: Traveled five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Thursday at The Thoroughbred Center.

Plutarch: Worked a half-mile over Santa Anita’s all-weather training track in :48.40 on Sunday.

Universe: Clocked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Vost: Went half a mile in :49.35 on Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Ted Noffey (40 points)
2. Litmus Test (19 points)
3. Mr. A. P. (15 points)
4. Intrepido (13 points)
5. Universe (13 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Hawk Mountain (20 points)
2. Puerto Rico (10 points)
3. Bow Echo (10 points)
4. Action (8 points)
5. Nighttime (5 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby top five

1. Pyromancer (20 points)
2. Tamamo Freesia (10 points)
3. Satono Voyage (10 points)
4. Best Green (6 points)
5. Don Erectus (5 points)